See prologue for disclaimer. I'm addicted to feedback, please support my habit.

Chapter 10

At 6PM on the dot, I heard Bobby knocking on my door. I had spent my afternoon watching soap operas and cleaning my apartment. Compared to the women on the soaps, my life was positively boring. At least I wasn't pregnant with my stepfather's baby and wanted for murder and sleeping with my twin sister's husband.

See, sometimes all you need is perspective.

When I opened the door, I was greeted by a pair of brown paper grocery bags filled to the brim. Behind them I saw Bobby standing in my hallway with a big smile on his face. He looked scrumptious in a pair of faded jeans and light green button down shirt. His skin was light chocolate and his dark hair was shaved close. He had a smile that lit up his soft brown eyes and I had a warm flash when I remembered his body pressed to mine when we were playing pool.

"Hi Sexy."

"Hey, Bobby. Come in," I said taking one of the bags from him and leading him to the kitchen.

"You hungry?"

"Famished."

"Well, I'm glad because I have a fantastic dinner planned for you. Do you mind if I make myself at home in your kitchen?"

"Please do, what can I do to help?" I asked as he started to unload the bags in my kitchen.

"I'm here to take care of you, so I'm going to start by running you a bath. He disappeared with a bag into my bathroom and reappeared a few minutes later. He steered me into the bathroom where my countertop twinkled with an assortment of candles. The room smelled of lavender and mint.

"Get in the tub and I don't want you to get out until you're pruney. While you do that, I'm gonna start dinner." He kissed my forehead and closed me in my bathroom.

I shrugged to myself and figured what the heck, I'll go with it. After 30 minutes, I emerged from the bath feeling very relaxed and pampered.

I got dressed casually in a pair of comfy jeans and a white button down oxford shirt that I left untucked and unbuttoned over a lacy white tank top.

I reentered the kitchen. It smelled heavenly and I smiled at Bobby.

"How was your bath?"

"Marvelous, but I had to get out before I fell asleep and drowned," I grinned. "Wow, Bobby, it smells amazing. I want to help, please."

"Sure, you want to chop vegetables?" he asked pushing a cutting board and knife toward me.

"Sure." For the next half hour we worked companionably in the kitchen.

He explained that he had started his mama's gumbo this afternoon in his apartment at RangeMan since it was best if it cooked slowly for several hours. "It was my mama's recipe. I grew up in Louisiana before I went into the army."

While I chopped vegetables for the salad, Bobby whipped up corn bread muffins. He even brought his own muffin tins. Smart man. I had a cookie sheet, frying pan, a large pot and a small pot. Domestic goddess I was not.

Within 40 minutes, we were sitting down at my table to a fabulous southern style home-cooked meal. The gumbo had sausage and chicken and vegetables with just the right amount of spice.

"This is really good," I said after a few bites. "If you usually cook like this, I think I want to marry you. Especially since Ella's already taken."

Bobby just smiled, "Wait 'til you have dessert."

"Did you learn how to cook from your mom?" I asked.

"Pretty much. At least she was the one who helped me when I was little. I was the oldest of five and Mama worked two jobs, so I learned to cook early on. After that it became a hobby. I love to watch the food channel and learn new recipes and techniques."

"Well I'm impressed. You're gonna have to show me a few things. I've only learned to burn toast and make cookies from frozen dough. Though, I do make a mean peanut butter and olive sandwich."

Bobby made a face at the idea of my favorite sandwich and then agreed that he'd be happy to help me learn my way around a kitchen.

"I'm surprised that your mom didn't teach you."

"It's funny, but cooking is such a major part of what she contributes to her marriage that I don't think she's ever wanted to give up any part of that. Or it could be that she gave up after I caught the kitchen on fire."

Bobby smiled and shook his head. "So you've always been trouble?"

"Yup."

"Well I for one think you're worth the trouble." His brown eyes held mine for a moment before he said, "Ready for dessert?"

For dessert Bobby had made a chocolate volcano cake that was rich chocolate cake with a liquid chocolate center. He had homemade whip cream to go with it.

I moaned and closed my eyes as I savored each bite. "This is heavenly," I said. "God, I love chocolate."

"That's what I'm counting on." His liquid brown eyes were shimmering with suppressed mirth. I guess that came out differently than I meant. But come to think of it, his chocolate was pretty damn appealing and the man knew his way around a kitchen.

"This was a lot of work, Bobby, I appreciate it," I said. "It must have taken a lot of preparation before you got here."

"Yeah, Tank gave me some time off."

"Tank's been pretty lenient with the time off this week."

"Well, that's part of the agreement. We each get our chance and if we need time or whatever, we are supposed to get it, within reason. Plus, I was at the police station until about 2AM making sure that Young got booked and wasn't gonna be re-released on bail."

Bobby shook his head, "I've never seen Ranger like he was last night. It was worse than with Stiva. I swear if the cops hadn't been on their way, he would have put a bullet in Simon. As it was, Lester was nearly arrested for the beating he gave the guy. Lucky you've got friends on the force. Simon had a broken rib, a busted nose and probably a bruised kidney. He isn't going too be feeling to good for a long while."

"Wow, I hadn't heard any of that."

"I guess no one wanted to make you relive last night," Bobby said, his tone wary.

"Yeah, I guess. But, I'm fine, Bobby." I stood up and started to clear the dishes.

Bobby took the dishes from my hands and said, "I didn't come over here to stick you with the clean up. I'll get it. I really do want you to take it easy."

"I'm fine Bobby," I repeated a little more firmly, then I smiled, "I like that you want to do this for me, but I also want to spend this time with you."

Bobby capitulated with a smile and I joined him in the kitchen with another arm load of dirty dishes. He washed and I dried while he asked me about growing up in the Burg. He also shared stories of living in a small Louisiana town where alligators and humans cohabitated and mosquitoes were the state bird. His stories about flying cockroaches the size of small rodents and other creep crawly things made me shudder even while I enjoyed his funny stories.

After we had cleaned up the kitchen, we sat in the living room each with a glass of wine and relaxed to the music that Bobby had put into my stereo. The silky sounds of Ella Fitzgerald emerged from my speakers and Bobby pulled me up from the sofa and into his arms. We danced slowly in my living room to the sexy, soulful music. I relaxed in his arms and was soothed by the rocking motion.

"You seem tired. I can leave if you want."

"No, don't go. I've been alone too much today. Let's watch a movie."

"Sure, Sexy. I've brought a few with me unless you have something in mind."

We ended up watching Bad Boys II which was funny because I'd always thought Bobby resembled Will Smith with bigger muscles. It was a long movie and by the end I was curled up against Bobby with his arm wrapped around me, fighting sleep.

When the credits rolled, Bobby scooped me up. He carried me to my bed and gently laid me under the covers, removing my shoes. I opened my eyes long enough to smile and say, "Thank you for a lovely evening. I'm sorry I didn't stay awake for the end of the movie."

"That's okay, Sexy. You rest. I'll be leaving now. Sweet dreams." He leaned down and kissed my forehead and I closed my eyes.

ooooooooooooooooo

The ringing phone woke me up. I glanced at my clock. 10:25 AM. Wow, it felt good to sleep late on a Friday and not be worried about getting in trouble at work.

I reached for the cordless handset that was resting on my bedside table.

"Hello?" I asked groggily.

"Stephanie? This is your mother. What are you doing home? Did you lose another job?"

Can't you feel the love? "No, Mom. I have the day off."

"Oh, I wasn't sure, because I called your office number and was told you were out. Are you still sick?"

"Nope Mom, I'm doing fine. I just have the day off."

"Good, well then you can come over for dinner tonight."

"Actually, I have a date tonight." Well I didn't actually have a date as of this minute, but it was likely since the boys did seem to be taking consecutive nights when possible. It was only a little white lie.

"Oh, that's wonderful. I've been hoping you and Joseph would get back together. Why don't you bring him with you?"

I rolled my eyes because I knew she couldn't see me. "I'm not getting back together with Joe. I have a date with someone new."

"Who?"

Crap. I wasn't sure who it was tonight. They hadn't see fit to give me the line-up. Well if Tank was Sunday that left either Woody or Hal. There was a fifty percent chance that I'd get it right. "Hal." I think.

"Well you can bring your new boyfriend with you. And you shouldn't roll your eyes. It's not polite."

I rolled my eyes again. "We'll see."

"Stephanie, we haven't seen you in over a week. You know, you can never tell how much longer your grandmother is going to be around. You should cherish the time you get to have with her now. And with your father for that matter." Perfect. Burg guilt.

"I'll see what I can do. I don't know what we have planned yet."

"I'm making lasagna and tiramisu. We'll see you both at 6 sharp." Did she even hear me? Argh!

"Bye, Mom."

"Bye."

I just shook my head. How did I get into these messes? Now I had to drag a man to dinner at my parents tonight. I prayed that Hal or Woody had some kind of extreme sporting activity planned so I could avoid dinner by way of the emergency room. It was my only hope.